US Space Force: Full FOIA denial on Fastwalkers/Slowwalkers documents
The United States Space Force formally denied a FOIA request seeking manuals and procedures regarding 'Fastwalkers' and 'Slowwalkers', citing national security exemptions. The response letter claimed all responsive materials remain fully classified under Executive Order provisions.
Background
On December 19, 2023, the U.S. Space Force issued a formal denial in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Black Vault five months prior. The request sought all current and historical procedures and manuals referencing 'Fastwalkers' and 'Slowwalkers', military terms believed to describe objects detected by defense surveillance systems moving at high or slow velocities outside Earth's atmosphere. Despite claiming a 'presumption of disclosure', the Space Force invoked FOIA Exemption (b)(1) to withhold all documents, asserting that release could harm national defense or foreign policy interests. This refusal highlights a continuity of classification practices spanning at least a decade, contrasting sharply with recent transparency efforts by other military branches regarding anomalous phenomena.